Mop head

ABSTRACT

A mop head has generally U-shaped loops extending to both sides of the center band and the loops are extensively twisted along their lengths. Additional bands may be provided on both sides of the center band. The center band is secured to portions of the loops that are untwisted.

United States Patent 1 Argeris et al.

[451 Apr. 24, 1973 MOP HEAD [76] Inventors: John G. Argeris, 8 LeanderStreet, Danielson, Conn. 06239; James A. Atwood, III, Genbren Road,Plainfield, Conn. 06374 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1971 [21 Appl. No.:180,279

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart 01 581. No.73,115, Sept. 17,

1970, Pat. NO. 3,633,975.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..l5/229 A [51] Int. Cl. ..A47l 13/20 [58] Field of Search..15/228, 229 R, 229 AC, 15/229 AW, 229 B, 229 BC, 229 BW; 300/21 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,035,130 3/1936 Klawans ..l5/229R UX Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Al!0rneyPeter L. Costas 57 ABSTRACT Amop head has generally U-shaped loops extending to both sides of thecenter band and the loops are extensively twisted along their lengths.Additional bands may be provided on both sides of the center band. Thecenter band is secured to portions of the loops that are untwisted.

- 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 3,728,756

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.3 FIG. 4

In ven fans do/m G. Aryerz's domes A. Atw od ZZT Patented April 24, 19733,728,756

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 16 U l m Invenfors Ja/m G Alger-1'5, James A. A wood 1HBy Afiornqy MOP HEAD RELATED APPLICATION The present application is acontinuation-in-part of our copending application, Ser. No. 73,115 filedSept. 17, 1970 and entitled Method of Making a Mop Head," now U.S. Pat.No. 3,633,975, issued Jan. 11, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various techniques have been proposed forthe manufacture of mop heads, and one of the most widely acceptedutilizes absorbent yarn. Preferably, such a mop should be constructedwith an elongated loop construction which minimizes unraveling, andinsures good surface contact with the floor being mopped. It has beenproposed to twist the loops to provide better characteristics in suchmop heads including durability, good conformity to the surface beingmopped, avoidance of snagging objects on that surface, high absorptionand reduced streaking. Attempts to produce such a mop having twistedelongated loops have been made with complicated twisting machineryrequiring extensive capital outlays.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel mop head havingextensively twisted loops of absorbent yarn to provide for good floorcoverage, durability and good water absorption.

It is also an object to provide such a mop head which is relativelysimple and relatively economical to fabricate and which is adaptable tovarious types of yarn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the foregoing andrelated objects can be readily attained in a mop head having elongatedloops of absorbent twisted yarn formed into an array of a multiplicityof elongated U-shaped loops extending inboth directions from thecenterline of the array with the arcuate closely spaced end portionsthereof providing the end portionsof the array. The array is ofsubstantial width and the loops measured from the centerline are ofsubstantially equal length and closely spaced together. Securing meanson the array adjacent the centerline secure all the loops in the arraytogether to form a secure assembly. The loops are extensively twistedabout their longitudinal axes with the twists spaced along at least themajor portion of the loops length, but the loops are substantially freefrom intertwining along the length thereof.

In one embodiment, the depending loops are arranged with theirlongitudinal axes substantially parallel when the loops are freelysuspended. In another embodiment, at least some of said generallyU-shaped loops at least partially overlie some other loops. An elongatedyarn element provides one of the generally U-shaped loops on each sideof the centerline with the free ends thereof being disposed adjacent thecenterline of the array, or an elongated yarn element may weave back andforth to generate a multiplicity of loops on each side of the centerlineof the array.

Most preferably, the mop head loops fan out from the securing means intoa generally planar form on each side of the centerline having a lateralregion intermediate the closed end and the centerline, and flexibleinterconnecting means is affixed to the loops in the lateral region tosecure them together. In one embodiment, the two or more assemblies arearranged in superposed relationship to provide a laminated assembly.

Twisted rayon yarn having a predisposition to twist upon itself due tostresses therein as a result of its manufacturing process is mostdesirably employed in the present mopheads. The twisted loops may beprocessed as by heating after agitation thereof in the twisted conditionto set them in the twisted position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mopembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of two mop head assemblies each comprising aplurality of closed loop portions showing the arrangement of the loopsin one type of mop head and adapted to be superposed and securedtogether to form an assembly having greater thickness;

FIG. 3 is a partially diagrammatic plan view of a construction in whicha single continuous yarn is employed to provide the loops, the centerband being removed and the loops being spaced apart for clarity ofillustration;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the preferred embodiment whereinseparate yarns from the individual loops which are bound together toform a mop head;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another mop head embodying the presentinventions; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partially diagrammatic side elevational view toan enlarged scale of the mop head of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Turning now in detailto the appended drawings, a mop embodying the present invention has amop head or swab portion 10 to which is affixed by suitable securingmeans 12 to the handle 14. The mop head 10 has two depending portionseach comprising a multiplicity of elongated U-shaped loops 16 oftwisted, absorbent yarn which are assembled into an array of rathersubstantial widths. A fabric band 18 encircles the loops 16 and issecured thereto by sewing as indicated by numerals l9 and in turn isengaged by the securing means 12. Intermediate the length of each of thetwo depending portions is a flexible interconnecting band 20 whichencircles the portion and is sewn to the loops 16 by the stitchesindicated at 22 to hold them in a fanned out or planar position andthereby increase the absorption of the mop head.

Turning now in detail to FIG. 2, therein illustrated is a pair of mophead assemblies embodying the present invention prior to twisting of theloops 16 and prior to assembly of the two mop head assemblies insuperposed condition and engagement by sewing or the like. In thisembodiment, each of the mop head assemblies is comprised of amultiplicity of twisted yarn elements 32 of relatively short lengthwhich have their free ends (not shown disposed adjacent the centerlineof the array which is defined by the fabric band 18. In this manner,each yarn element 32 provides a closed loop 16 to each side of thecenterline of the array. In the illustrated embodiment, theyarn elements32 are spaced so that the loops 16 do not overlie each other in a freelydepending condition when the mop head is suspended from the fabric band.After the loop elements 32 have been properly spaced, the fabric band 18is brought about the entire surface of the array at the midpoint thereofand is secured to the individual loop elements 16 by the stitching 19.

In accordance with the sample method for making the mop heads of thepresent invention, the mop head assembly thus produced is suspendedadjacent the band 18 so that the loops l6 freely depend therefrom. The

'mop head assembly is then subjected to rapid agitation to producetwisting of the loops 16 along substantially their entire length, andthis agitation is preferably by movement in an arcuate path at a rapidrate, the arcuate path desirably being in the direction in which thestrands of the yarn elements 24 are twisted. In this manner, the kineticenergy or biasing tendency of the twisted yarn will produce twisting ofthe loops 16 along :their length and the agitation is continued untilthe desired high degree of twist over substantially the entire length ofthe loops l6 outwardly of the band 18 is attained.

In this particular embodiment, two mop head assemblies are illustratedand the assemblies are superposed after the twisting operation and sewntogether at the fabric bands 18 thereof to provide a thicker mop headfor even greater absorptive capacity. I

Turning now to the embodiment of FIG. 3, therein illustrated partiallydiagrammatically is another embodiment of the present invention in whicha single length 29 of yarn is wound back and forth across the centerlineof the array to provide the loops 16 on both sides of the centerline ofthe array. It will be appreciated that the ends 30 of the length of yarnare disposed adjacent the centerline of the array so as to be concealedand protected by the fabric band 18 when it is applied. Following theformation of the array, the fabric band is applied and the assembly isagitated to produce the twisted condition shown in the illustration. Theloops 16 have been shown spaced apart for purposes of clari-' ty ofillustration and may lie in a common plane or overlap each otherdepending upon the disposition of the loops 16 at the centerline of thearray. It can be seen that the loops 16 are not twisted adjacent thecenterline of the array where the fabric band 18 is applied prior toagitation to produce twisting.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the construction of the embodiment of FIG.2 is partially diagrammatically illustrated. Here the individual yarnelements 32 are shown as having their free ends 23 disposed adjacenteach other, and they are spaced apart for clarity of illustration. Witheither the embodiment of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the individual yarn elementsproviding a pair of loops 16 may be overlapped at the centerline toproduce overlapping of the loops 16 if so desired. When the fabric bandis applied, the loops 16 at the center portion of the array do not twistso that the center portion of the array is flat.

In the embodiment of FIGS. and 6, the flexible interconnecting bonds Aare spaced relatively closely adjacent the center fabric band 18. Inmops, the greatest wear on the yarns tends to occur adjacent the handle14 (or securing means 12) in the area designated X because the pressureof the swabbing action is concentrated in this area. As a result, theyarns tend to break off one at a time during extended usage. Because theyarns are loops 16 on either side of the centerline in mops of thepresent invention, this breakage would result in long lengths of yarnextending beyond the arcuate end portions of unfragmented loops. Byspacing the interconnecting bands 20A closely adjacent the center fabricband 18, the breakage of individual yams or loops 16 in the area ofconcentrated wear X will not result in complete opening of the loops 16since the loops are all secured together at a point outwardly therefromby the bands 20A and the stitching 22.

The manner of effecting the agitation of the mop head assembly toproduce the twisting may be varied and may be both manual andmechanical, it being necessary that the agitation be sufficient in timeand energy to produce a multiplicity of twists along substantially theentire length of the loops outwardly of the securing means or band.Agitating devices of the type used to mix paint have been found highlysuitable for .providing the motion desired. The motion can be circularor arcuate, and is preferably horizontal in the direction of thetwisting of the yarn. The time period for the agitation will vary withthe type of twisted yarn, the degree of twisting required by theapplication and the nature of energy supplied by the agitating means.When generally circular manual agitation is employed, a typical timeperiod will be on the order of 4-7 minutes.

As previously indicated, the twisting should extend over substantiallythe entire length of the loops outwardly of the securing means or bandand a multiplicity of twists should be provided. The number of twistsalong the length of each loop will vary with the length of the loop andthe desired degree of absorption increase. As the number of twists areincreased, the absorption is generally enhanced but excessive twistingmust also be avoided to ensure that stresses are not produced by thetwists which will prevent the loops from conforming closely to thefloor. Thus, the number of twists along the length of each loop may varyfrom as few as four to 20 and even more depending upon the length andnature of the yarn. Preferably, at least five twists spaced along thelength of the loop will be provided.

The tendency of the loops to twist in accordance with the presentinvention may be enhanced by the selection of unbalanced yarns known inthe art resulting from excessive stresses in the twisting process.Normally, such yarns are undesirable for most applications but they dofind application in the present invention. The material of the yarn mayvary widely so long as it provides the requisite degree ofabsorptiveness and durability. Among the materials which are commonlyemployed are rayon, polyacrylonitrile, polyester and cotton; rayon isgenerally preferred.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the yarnloops are set in a twisted condition by the application of heat,chemicals or mechanical means to anneal or relieve the stresses producedin the yarn by the twisting processes. The methods and time of thesetting process will vary with the yarn selected as ployed in that itserves to spread out the loops into a wider width and increase thecoverage of the floor surface. After the twisting operation has beencompleted, the loops are fanned out into substantially planar conditionand the band is applied thereto, generally by stitching. The location ofthis band is not critical; however, it is desirably located at adistance of about 2-5 inches from the closed ends of the loops toprovide greatest effectiveness from the standpoint of fanning action andat a distance of about 2-5 inches from the central securing band toprovide the greatest effectiveness from the standpoint of preventingbroken yarns from spreading outwardly.

The yarn may be so assembled into the array so that i the loops do notoverlap each other, that is with their longitudinal centerlines insubstantially parallel relationship, or alternatively so that the loopsdo overlap. By substantially avoiding overlapping, the bulk at thecenter of the array may be reduced and engagement facilitated. Themanner of securing the loops together adjacent the centerline may varyfrom the sewn band of the illustrated embodiments to application of amatrix of a synthetic resin which embeds the loops to application ofheat or solvent to suitable synthetic plastic members to produce fusionthereof. The specific means employed should provide secure and flexibleengagement of the loops to facilitate gripping within the mop handle.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides a method formaking a mop head having extensively twisted loops of absorbent yarn toprovide for good floor coverage, durability, and good water absorption.The mop head may be made by a method which is relatively simple,relatively economical and adaptable to various types of yarn. Expensiveequipment is not required and manual operation may be even employed.

We claim:

1. A mop head having highly desirable absorption and durabilitycomprising a multiplicity of elongated generally U-shaped loops ofabsorbent yarn extending to opposite sides of the centerline thereofwith the arcuate end portions of said loops providing the ends of saidmop head, said mop head being of substantial width and being ofsubstantially equal length to opposite sides of said centerline, saidmultiplicity of elongated generally U-shaped loops including portionsextending inwardly from said arcuate end portions thereof having amultiplicity of twists spaced therealong and an intermediate portionextending therebetween wherein each of said loops is untwisted, securingmeans bonding said loops together over a portion of said intermediateportion thereof extending to opposite sides of said centerline, saidloops being substantially free from intertwining along the lengththereof and a single piece of yarn forms only one loop on each side ofsaid centerline.

2. The mop head of claim 1 wherein said loops are arranged with theirlongitudinal axes substantially parallel when said loops are freelydepending.

3. The mop head of claim 1 wherein at least some of said generallyU-shaped loops at least partially overlie some other loops.

4. The mop head of claim 1 additionally including flexibleinterconnecting bandsspaced to op osite sides of said securing meansextending about sal loops and secured thereto.

5. The mop head of claim 6 wherein said U-shaped loops are fanned outinto a generally planar form on each side of said centerline and aresecured in said fanned out form by said flexible interconnecting bands.

6. The mop head of claim 1 wherein two loop assemblies each comprised ofas defined in claim 1 are secured together in overlying relationship.

7. The mop head in accordance with claim 1 wherein said yarn is rayon.

8. The mop head of claim 1 wherein the yarn of said twisted loops isannealed after twisting.

1. A mop head having highly desirable absorption and durabilitycomprising a multiplicity of elongated generally U-shaped loops ofabsorbent yarn extending to opposite sides of the centerline thereofwith the arcuate end portions of said loops providing the ends of saidmop head, said mop head being of substantial width and being ofsubstantially equal length to opposite sides of said centerline, saidmultiplicity of elongated generally U-shaped loops including portionsextending inwardly from said arcuate end portions thereof having amultiplicity of twists spaced therealong and an intermediate portionextending therebetween wherein each of said loops is untwisted, securingmeans bonding said loops together over a portion of said intermediateportion thereof extending to opposite sides of said centerline, saidloops being substantially free from intertwining along the lengththereof and a single piece of yarn forms only one loop on each side ofsaid centerline.
 2. The mop head of claim 1 wherein said loops arearranged with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel when saidloops are freely depending.
 3. The mop head of claim 1 wherein at leastsome of said generally U-shaped loops at least partially overlie someother loops.
 4. The mop head of claim 1 additionally including flexibleinterconnecting bands spaced to opposite sides of said securing meansextending about said loops and secured thereto.
 5. The mop head of claim6 wherein said U-shaped loops are fanned out into a generally planarform on each side of said centerline and are secured in said fanned outform by said flexible interconnecting bands.
 6. The mop head of claim 1wherein two loop assemblies each comprised of as defined in claim 1 aresecured together in overlying relationship.
 7. The mop head inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said yarn is rayon.
 8. The mop head ofclaim 1 wherein the yarn of said twisted loops is annealed aftertwisting.